Introducing KO Youth @ AM Staff

We're delighted to introduce two incredible new colleagues in KO who will be supporting this year's programming for middle and high school students.  Callie Rivera (she/her) works with Rev. David Wheeler as Director of Children's Ministries at New Covenant Christian Church in OKC where programming centers around growing curious, connected, and confident individuals who come to see and know God through justice, advocacy, and compassion. She loves helping children and youth feel seen and heard while providing safe, healthy connections within a trauma-informed, neurodiverse-friendly ministry.  Her background from OU is in music education and religious studies, and she previously work with Connections Youth in Bartlesville to lead a non-religious, education-based ONA youth group that dove into units such as LGBTQ+, racism, ableism, poverty, healthy boundaries, mental health, trauma, and world religions. 

Callie and her husband, Alex, are Foster/Adoptive parents who have a passion for walking alongside parents through hard times and bridging children back to their families. They currently have three forever Riveras, but usually have at least one other child sharing their home and hearts. Callie enjoys singing, organizing, and talking about what you are passionate about over much-needed coffee.

New to Fellowship UCC in Tulsa as Coordinator of Youth & Family Ministries, we also welcome Justin DaMetz (he/him) to the Annual Meeting team!  Justin joined Fellowship's staff in July after four years as a public school teacher. He has previous experience working in churches, non-profits, politics, and campus ministry around Oklahoma and Kansas. Justin has a Masters in Theology and Ethics from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, and as Bachelors in Political Science from Oklahoma City University. When he's not at FCUCC, Justin enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, and hunting for rocks and crystals with his wife, Tabitha, and his three kids, Julian, Evelyn, and Hollis.